All of the authors are with the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine.
Am J Public Health. 2022 Mar;112(3):434-442. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2021.306603.
To (1) examine the disparity in availability of PurpleAir low-cost air quality sensors in California based on neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) and exposure to fine particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometers (PM), (2) investigate the temporal trend of sensor distribution and operation, and (3) identify priority communities for future sensor distribution. We obtained census tract-level SES variables and PM concentrations from the CalEnviroScreen4.0 data set. We obtained real-time PurpleAir sensor data (July 2017-September 2020) to examine sensor distribution and operation. We conducted spatial and temporal analyses at the census tract level to investigate neighborhood SES and PM concentrations in relation to sensor distribution and operation. The spatial coverage and the number of PurpleAir sensors increased significantly in California. Fewer sensors were distributed in census tracts with lower SES, higher PM, and higher proportions of racial/ethnic minority populations. Furthermore, a large proportion of existing sensors were not in operation at a given time, especially in disadvantaged communities. Disadvantaged communities should be given access to low-cost sensors to fill in spatial gaps of air quality monitoring and address environmental justice concerns. Sensor purchasing and deployment must be paired with regular maintenance to ensure their reliable performance. (. 2022;112(3):434-442. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306603).
（1）考察加利福尼亚州根据邻里社会经济地位（SES）和细颗粒物（PM）暴露情况，低价空气质量传感器（PurpleAir）的供应差异；（2）调查传感器分布和运行的时间趋势；（3）确定未来传感器分配的优先社区。我们从 CalEnviroScreen4.0 数据集获取了普查区层面的 SES 变量和 PM 浓度数据。我们获取了实时 PurpleAir 传感器数据（2017 年 7 月至 2020 年 9 月），以检查传感器的分布和运行情况。我们在普查区层面进行了空间和时间分析，以调查邻里 SES 和 PM 浓度与传感器分布和运行的关系。传感器的空间覆盖范围和数量在加利福尼亚显著增加。SES 较低、PM 较高和少数族裔人口比例较高的普查区分配的传感器较少。此外，大量现有传感器在特定时间未运行，尤其是在弱势群体社区。应让弱势社区获得低成本传感器，以填补空气质量监测的空间空白，并解决环境正义问题。传感器采购和部署必须与定期维护相结合，以确保其可靠性能。（2022；112（3）：434-442。https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306603）。
